AP Classes' Effect on College Credits

Quick question, do taking AP courses in high school provide college credits? If so, how does that typically work? How much does it potentially help with course load in the freshman year of college?

Yes, taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school can lead to college credit, depending on the college's specific policy and the score you get on the AP exam.

Here's how it works. After completing an AP course, you take the accompanying AP exam, which is scored on a 1 to 5 scale. Many colleges grant credit or placement into higher level courses if you score a 3, 4, or 5 on these exams.

This can potentially reduce your course load during your freshman year in several ways. For starters, if you've earned sufficient AP credit in a specific subject, you may be able to skip introductory courses. Instead, you can move straight into higher-level classes, which can be a real benefit if you're planning on majoring in that field.

In some cases, if you've earned enough AP credits, it may even be possible to graduate early. However, all these depend significantly on the specific college's policy about AP credits, since not all colleges view and accept AP credits the same way.

It’s important to research the AP credit policy at your prospective schools, which can usually be found on their website or involves a quick email or phone call to the admissions office if you can't find it. Universities might have a threshold score you have to reach on the AP test before they'll grant you credit. Some colleges might have a cap on how many credits they'll accept, while others have very generous policies and will maximize the amount of credit you can bring in. Knowing these policies can help you plan your high school course load and understand how it might affect your course load once in college.